There are so many things that require negotiation in a divorce settlement, and one that is always sure to be hotly contested is the dispute over custody. Both parents presumably want what is best for their children, but what their idea of “best” means is sure to vary. You could go to court and settle this, but mediation might be a better option. A Memphis, Tennessee child custody lawyer from our firm would be happy to tell you more about the latter option.
How Exactly Does Mediation Work?
When you choose mediation, you and your spouse sit down with a mediator, a neutral third party who is there to facilitate conversation and help you come to an agreement. It can be hard for many divorcing couples to come together and talk about important issues, but this must be done at some point. A mediator can help two people figure out what kind of arrangement can work for both parties.
Can Mediation Be Faster Than Litigation?
One reason that we suggest mediation is because it can often take less time than litigation. In fact, this is a big reason why the court will often order couples to try mediation before they ask the court to settle big issues like child custody and visitation.
If you take less time to settle an issue like this at mediation, that can help you get your divorce completed faster. If you can decide on something as important as child custody in these meetings, then there is a good chance that you will also be able to decide on other critical issues this way.
What If My Spouse and I Are Bad At Communicating?
You and your soon-to-be former spouse are probably not going to be on the best possible terms when your mediation begins. However, that is often not a problem for the mediator. They are trained for this. They can keep both parties on topic and focused on getting this part of your divorce agreement finalized.
What Are Some Other Advantages of Mediation?
There are also some other reasons to like this particular method of problem-solving. Mediation is also:
Confidential: When you go to court, there is a court record. That means that what you say and do is going to be recorded by a stenographer and put into the official record. Mediation sessions do not keep these kinds of records.
Less expensive: In most cases, mediation is going to be less expensive than going through litigation in court,
Less adversarial: When you go through litigation, you and your spouse are being put up against each other. In mediation, you have to work together. So this can be a better way to discuss sensitive issues without discussions immediately escalating into a conflict.
Contact Our Law Firm
If you think that mediation may be a good method for you and your former spouse, contact Rice Law. Nick Rice is not only a lawyer, but he is also a certified mediator. We can get the process started for you and see if this is the right approach to your child custody dispute.
